Heinrich Nicolaus

Heinrich Nicolaus was born in Munich in 1955 and attended the Academy of Fine arts in Kiel during the nineteen-seventies - a decade of intense critical analysis of the state of contemporary art. Though he became involved in the Neo-Expressionist movement, his cultural references point rather to strong Neo-Dadaist roots. Since he left Germany for Italy in 1981, his works have brought to bear a range of different but complimentary disciplines: over and above painting he uses sculpture, publishing, graphics and video so as to create those dynamic and mutating developments that have defined his artistic route. Nicolaus works at a multitude of levels, in a refined and thoughtful artistic quest that allows the viewer to immerse himself in what amounts to an eclectic and independent vision. In 1992 he oversaw Tinaia 9, a publishing project on Marcel Broodthaers and the production of a book entitled Madras, with Francesco Clemente. In 1996 he coordinated ICECOCU, a project for an international cultural foundation for the SsamYong Corporation in Seoul, South Korea. Since 1999 he has been involved in the Dormice project. In 2005 he took up his own work again with the cycle of works entitled The Princesses in Flight shown at Venice Design, and also founded MOMAP (Museum of Modern Art Panzano). Since 2006 he has been collaborating with Wolf Guenter Thiel on historical issues that lead to “ToM”, Theatre of More, based on Giulio Camillo’s “Teatro della Memoria” In 2010, he moved to Belgium, and founded “VAMP”, a project space in Peer, providence of Limburg, together with the interior designer Karin Daaijer, with whom he also collaborates on ToM. He has been a member of the Accademia degli Incolti in Rome since 1994. Nicolaus' work can be found in the following collections: Uffizi, Florence Albertina, Vienna Museum moderner Kunst, Linz Deutsche Bank Collection, Frankfurt and Singapore Chase Manhattan Collection, New York Leopold Hoesch Museum, Dueren Wuerth Museum, Kuenzelsau City of Munich Collection City of Kiel Collection FRAC Collection Burgundy and Strasbourg Toulouse Museum Palazzo Forti, Verona (with Dormice) Scottsdale Center for Contemporary Art, Arizona University of Graz Kunstkolletion Bouw Fonds, Hoevelaken Griesbach Collection, Graz Frieder Burda Collection, Baden Baden Amsler Collection, Aarau, Suisse, Greve in Chianti (open-air sculpture) and Civitella d’Agliano (open-air sculpture). He has been the subject of published work by: Sandro Candreva, Fabio Cavallucci, Viana Conti, Andrea B. del Guercio, Maria Luisa Frisa, Siegfried Gnichwitz, Wolfgang Hilger, Wolfgang Längsfeld, Karl Heinz Schmidt, Friedhelm Mennekes Norbert Messler Giandomenico Semeraro Martin Stather, Wolf- Günter Thiel, Elda Torres, Thomas Veit, Frank Günter,Zehnder, Alessandra Galletta, Gabrielle Perretta, Maurizio Sciaccaluga, Luca Marziani, Luca Beatrice, Victor Fleming. It is no accident that the titles of Nicolaus’ work from the late seventies allude to the theme of construction, in a quest for geometric or stereometric composition revealed with originality through his choice of techniques (mixed, oil, pencil) or of materials (board, paper, paperboard), with hints of Spatialism animating the montage with the slightest vibrations of light, the assembly – or the disassembly – of background o the disposition of rectilinear volume, preferably monochrome. Since the eighties we have been privy to an extraordinary virage that has led us to the next turn in the progress of this singular artist. It could not, moreover, be otherwise, since the universality of Nicolaus’ painting springs from the particularity of his German cultural roots. It is from his paintings that one understands what Nicolaus is made of and where his interests lie: painter, draughtsman, engraver, sculptor, designer – in so many directions it might seem hard to pin him down. But if you look and keep looking, time uncovers the truth and gets to the heart of the matter. Nicolaus attacks his artistic ideal from two opposing positions: figuration and abstraction. Each of the approaches has its own independent life and the two interact in a overwhelming spiral of colours and form. A surprise in every direction. SOLO EXHIBITIONS 1980 Galerie Hinterhaus, Kiel 1981 Galerie Marley, Kiel Galerie Christoph Dürr, München Schönstrasse Unendlich, Hamburg 1982 Galerie Quadriga Forum, Zürich Galerie Imanuel, Rodenbach 1983 Galerie 7,Freiburg 1984 Galerie Ferdiand Maiere, Kitzbuehel Galerie Schiessl, Munchen Galerei Karin Bolz, Muehlheim 1985 Galerie Stahlberger, Weil am Rhein Galleria Peccolo, Livorno Galerei Severina Teucher, Zurigo Getler Saper Gallery, New Yor Galerie Hilger, Wien 1986 Creative Arts Council, Sharon, Connecticut Museum Gelsenkirchen Galerie Kremer Tengelmann, Gelsenkirchen Galerie Schiessl, Munchen Galerie am kleinen Markt, Mannheim 1987 Galerie Kremer-Tangelmann, Köln Galerie Hilger, Wien Galerie Hilger, Frankfurt Galerie Stahlberger, Weil am Rhein 1988 Galeria Quatro Gats, Palma de Mallorca Galerie Lamaignière Saint Germaine, Paris Galerie am Rindermarkt, Zurich 1989 Galerie Art actuelle, Liège Galleria Marsilio Margiacchi, Arezzo Galerie G., Besancon, Galerie Clairefontaine, Louxembourg Galerie Hilger, Frankfurt Galerie Lamaignère St. Germain, Paris, Galerie am kleinen Markt, Mannheim 1990 Kunststation Sankt Peter, Köln Galerie Hilger,Wien Galleria Carini, Firenze Galerie Brigitte Wagner, Bonn Kunstverein Rotenburg Galerie Brinkmann, Amsterdam Galerie Susanne Zander, Köln 1991 Galerie Die Brücke, Buenos Aires Galerie Brinkmann, Amsterdam Galerie Freund, Klagenfurt Juul van der Heuvel, den Haag Galerie Hilger, Wien 1992 Galerie Brigitte Wagner, Bonn Galerie Hilger, Wien Galerie Lamaignère St. Germain, Paris Galerie Brinkmann, Amsterdam 1993 Kunstverein Mannheim Galerie Hilger, Frankfurt 1994 Galerie Art Actuel; Liège Venice Design Art Gallery, Venezia 1995 Galleria Solarte, Roma Patrizia Pietrogrande, Firenze Galerie Hilger, Wien Porto Turistico, Capri 1996 Galerie Paleo, Köln Venice Design Art Gallery, Venezia I Granai, Lucca ICECOCU Foundation, Seoul, Corea 1997 Associated American Artists, New York Artcore Gallery, Toronto Convento dei Passionisti, Monte Argentario Andrew Han Gallery, Montreal Galerie Bornemann, Lubecka 1998 Capricorno Gallery, Capri Venice Design Art Gallery, Venezia Galerie Madach 5, Budapest Museum Kuenzelsau Glaskasten Studtgart 1999 Venice Design Art Gallery, Venezia Galerie Glacis, Graz 2000 Capricorno Gallery, Capri 2002 Capricorno Gallery, Capri 2004 Venice Design Art Gallery, Venezia Capricorno Gallery, Capri 2005 Venice Design Art Gallery, Venezia 2006 Capricorno Gallery, Capri Galerie Hilger, Wien (with Dormice and Sawan Yawnghwe) 2007 Venice Design Art Gallery, Venezia, Galerie Zeitkunst, Kitzbuehel 2008 Capricorno Gallery, Capri 2009 Biennale di Venezia, Détournement 09 Venise, Palazzo Albrizzi, Venice White Box, New York GROUP EXHIBITIONS 1980 Galerie Marley, Kiel Museum am Dom, Lübeck 1982 Galerie Lang, Wien 1983 Imago, Nuernberg Evangelische Akademie, Hamburg 1984 Getler Saper Gallery, New York 1985 Leopold Hoesch Museum, Dueren Deutsche Bank, Heidelberg 1986 Kunstlerhaus Salzburg Galerie Hilger, Wien Accademia estiva Europa, Civitella d’Agliano Amsler Collection, Aarau Staedtische Galerie im Trudelhaus, Baden 1987 Palazzo Lanfranchi, Pisa Galleria Bonifacio, Genova Kuenstlerwerkstaetten Lothringerstr., Munchen Campo dei Segni, Civitella 1988 Convento Servito di Maria, Pesaro Convento del Bosco, Firenze Halle IV, Benconvento 1989 Galerie Susanne Zander; Galerie Lamaignère St.Germain, Paris Galleria Civica, Reggio Emilia 1990 Galerie Brigitte Wagner, Bonn Grafiktriennale, Frechen Artlantis, Stuttgart Galerie d’Art actuel, Liege 1991 Scottsdale Center for Art, Arizona RAI special show, Amsterdam 1992 Leonhardskirche und Hospitalhof, Stuttgart Galerie Anton Meier, Genf Kunstverein Horn 1993 Stadtmuseum, Saarbrucken AMC Amsterdam 1994 Stadtmuseum, Wurzburg Galerie Clairefontaine, Luxemburg Holtegaard Foundation, Holte, Denmark Galerie der Bruecke, Buenos Aires 1995 Fundacion Cultural COAM, Madrid Fundaçao Bienal de Sao Paulo Galerie Marie Puck Broodthaers, Bruxelles 1996 Galerie Dominion, Montreal The Landon Gallery, New York Georgetown University Gallery, Washington Museum of Modern Art, Medelin, Colombia Joseph D.Carrier Art Gallery, Toronto 1997 Artcore Gallery,Toronto American Associated Artists, New York Vancouver Contemporary Artworks, Vancouver Hospitalhof, Stuttgart 1998 Galleria degli Uffizi, Firenze Galerie Stahlberger, Weil am Rheim 1999 Espace Paul Ricard, Paris An unequals Eye, New York Capricorno Gallery, Capri 2000 Palazzo delle Papesse, Siena, (con Dormice) 2001 Galleria Nazionale d’Arte Moderna, Roma (con Dormice) Foundation Pino Pascali, (with Dormice) Museo d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Verona (con Dormice) Capricorno Gallery, Capri 2002 Fondazione Sandretto Re Baudengo, Torino (con Dormice) 2003 Galleria Fernando La Torre, Saragozza Capricorno Gallery, Capri 2004 MESEDU, Museum for cont. Art, Sassari (with Dormice) MACI, Museum for cont. art, Isernia Biennale in Transit, Castel St. Angelo, Rome (with Dormice) 2005 Capricorno Gallery, Capri Center for Cont. Art, Cestello di Rivara, Turin (with Dormice) Center for Cont. Art, Pesaro-Urbino (with Dormice) 2007 Galerie Zeitkunst Capricorno Gallery, Capri BIBLIOGRAPHY Italienische Briefe, Text by Wolfgang Längsfeld, ed. Galerie Immanuel, 1982 Heinrich Nicolaus. Neue Arbeiten 1982-1984, text by Maria Luisa Frisa and Norbert Messler, ed. Galerie Maier, Kitzbüel, 1984 Heinrich Nicolaus, text byi Maria Luisa Frisa, ed. Galerie Stahlberger and Galleria Peccolo, 1985 Nicolaus, Bilder fuer Skulpturen, die Morgenlandfahrt, text byi Andrea B. del Guercio, ed. Galerie Kremer 1986 Heinrich Nicolaus, text by Wolfgang Hilger, ed. Galerie Hilger, Wien, 1986 Böcklin – Zyklus – Prolog, text by Heinrich Nicolaus, Edition Muehlfeld & Hilger, Wien/ Frankfurt, 1987 Wie man Böcklin vergisst, text by Viana Conti, ed. Galerie Hilger, Wien/Frankfurt, in collaboration with Galerie Kremer-Tengelmann, Koln, 1987 Heinrich Nicolaus, text by Siegfried Gnichwitz, ed.Galerie Tengelmann, 1987 Heinrich Nicolaus. Monolog, ed. Galerie Hilger, Wien/Frankfurt, 1989 Re vera, text by Sandro Candreva, ed. Carini, Firenze, 1990 Ich will das innere Feuer, text by Heinrich Nicolaus, ed. Carini, Firenze, 1990 Ürberfahrt – Ankuft – Die Atlantikueberquerung, text by Friedhelm Mennekes, ed. Galerie Hilger, Wien/Frankfurt, 1990 Heinrich Nicolaus, text by Elda Torres, Ediciones Der Brücke, Buenos Aires, 1991 Tibet, text by Viktor Fleming, ed. Galerie Hilger, Wien, 1992 Heinrich Nicolaus, text by Thomas Veit, ed. Galerie Brigitte Wagner, Bonn, 1992 Kopf und Figur, text by Martin Stather and Thomas Veit, ed. Kunstverein Mannheim, 1993 Meisterwerke von Turner zur Gegenwart, ed. Galerie Brigitte Wagner, Bonn, 1994 Der Blick der Figuren und Köpfe, text by Martin Stather, ed. Galerie HIlger, Wien, 1995 Quando l’oro parla, ed. Galleria Fallani Best, Florence, 1995 Lemniskatische Prozesse, ed. Galerie Stahlberger, Weil am Rhein, 1995 Dal progetto all’ opera, ed. Jospeh d. Carrier Art Gallery, Toronto and Gallery Dominion, Montreal, 1996 Nicolaus on Clemente, ed. ICECOCU Foundation, Seoul, Corea, 1996 Artisti internazionali in Toscana, text by Fabio Cavallucci, ed. Tuscia Electa, Hopefull Monster, Turin, 1996 Toxic Soup, ed. Vancouver Contemporary Artworks, Vancouver, 1997 Ovunque posa l’occhio c’è l’incanto, WEA, Milan, 1997 Das Zimmer der Malerei, text by Ernst Hilger and Heinrich Nicolaus, ed. Wuerth Museum, Kuenzelsau, 1998 Diario 1992-1994, text by Heinrich Nicolaus, Glaskasten Intermedia, Budapest/Leonberg, 1998 Sammlung Infled I, ed. Galerie Hilger, Wien, 1998 Nicolaus. Dream House, text by Wolf-Günter Thiel, ed. Venice Design Art Gallery, Venice, 2005 Manuale n° 1 Lo stato del mondo, AAVV, ed. MOMAP, 2005 “Principesse in fuga” text by Lionello Puppi, ed. Venice Design, Venice, 2005 ToM Box N 54, text by Juan Puntes, Max Seidel, Wolf Guenter Thiel, Gabriele Perretta, Ed. MOMAP and White Box, 2009.